TVET college students call for the arrest of NSFAS officials

Students at Tshwane South TVET college, are calling for the arrest of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) officials who are responsible for the current financial crisis affecting college students in the country.

EFF Youth Command sub-region convenor and student at Tshwane South TVET college, Itumeleng More, says it is disheartening that students at the college are struggling with something as basic as housing.

He claims that the fact that NSFAS has only covered two months’ worth of college students’ accommodation fees since the beginning of the , is concerning.

He is pushing for the officials responsible for the tragedy to be held accountable.

“What must happen is that the criminals that sent the R13 800 to students must be arrested with immediate effect. One of them is the Chief Operating Officer, Errol Makhubela. He must come down, so that these issues that are faced by students can be resolved as soon as possible. We cannot leave criminals to shy away from the matter and cover up their mess using students. All these criminals from NSFAS and DHET must be arrested,” says More.

More adds that management of their learning and residential facilities must also be part of their battle, arguing that students have a right to decent housing while pursuing their education.

Onkarabetse More, an electrical infrastructure and construction student at Tshwane South TVET College, says school management does not prioritise students’ well-being.

According to More, some school officials advised students to spend the money they received from NSFAS, but now they have turned their backs on the students when they complain about accommodation.

“They are the ones who said we should eat that money for accommodation in the first place. Now they don’t want to assist us. They say that us demonstrating in front of the school is wrong, the next thing they will expect us to pay school fees while NSFAS is neglecting us. They will expel us from the school if we can’t pay,” says More.

She claims that students sometimes do not pitch for lectures because they cannot afford to commute between school and their residence.

The scores of students are angered by the school administration’s failure to intervene in their financial dilemma.

The school’s Student Support Service (SSS) declined to assist the students and even requested the police to help disperse the demonstrators gathered outside the campus.

SSS Acting manager at the TVET college’s Pretoria West Campus, Dan Aphane, also refused to speak with YNews about the matter.

Tidimalo Sithole, a student at Tshwane South TVET College’s Atteridgeville campus, voiced her anger over being forced to use her monthly allowance, intended for groceries and other essentials, to pay for accommodation.

“Now we are paying our rent with our monthly allowance of R1700. We have no food and we attend school on hungry stomachs,” says Sithole.

Sithole says she postponed a test today to take part in the march, stressing that it was more important to ensure their grievances are heard by NSFAS and government.

Students say they are now facing eviction from their residences, which they claim should have been covered by the financial aid scheme.

Innocent Sekgobela, a student at Tshwane South TVET College, says some students have had to seek support from their families, as they have not received any money from NSFAS since the beginning of the 2025 academic year.

Sekgobela claims it is outrageous that they are being evicted over a mistake that is not even theirs, and accuses NSFAS of incompetence.

He claims that certain students have been accepted into the NSFAS program, but the financial institution has not given them a cent for accommodation or allowance this year.

He is demanding immediate action from NSFAS, claiming that pupils are unable to cope.

“It feels painful because some students come from poor families. We are not the same. Some families depend on grant; the parents cannot manage to send the student some money to be able to survive at school. NSFAS must be the one that help these type of students,” says Sekgobela.

Tshwane South TVET College Atteridgeville Campus EFF Student Command Chairperson Elvis Tshiwawa says students are required to prepare for exams while facing eviction due to NSFAS.

Tshiwawa is condemning what he calls the financial institution’s deceptive advice to students, claiming that it only paid R13800 into students’ bank accounts in March to cover lodging costs.

He claims this is misleading, especially as NSFAS is required to pay the service providers directly, rather than into the students’ bank accounts.

He adds that students are now under additional stress as they prepare for examinations, as well as fearing eviction due to a lack of housing money.

“NSFAS must pay for accommodation in order for us to relax. Students now are under added anxiety because they are facing eviction while also having to deal with exam stress,” says Tshiwawa.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao